The Clan Head and the Elder

Just as he was examining his Sharingan, two members of the Uchiha clan knocked on his door.

"Who's coming to find me at this hour?" Tianqi pushed open the door and saw two Uchiha ninjas.

Seeing Tianqi at the door, the two Uchiha ninjas looked him over and spoke.

"Uchiha Tianqi, the clan head wants to see you. Please come with us," said a young ninja who looked to be in his twenties.

"No problem, let's go." Tianqi nodded and followed them. He was curious to see what the current clan head wanted.

"Tianqi, I heard the Second Hokage lifted your restrictions? And that you've awakened your Sharingan—is that true?"

In the Military Police Force headquarters, Uchiha Qingyang, the captain, scrutinized him carefully.

"Clan Head, you summoned me late at night—surely it's not just to ask about this?" Tianqi narrowed his eyes and countered.

"Of course not. Tianqi, as a member of the Uchiha clan and a former Young Clan Head, it's only natural for me as clan head to care about my own people."

Hearing this, Tianqi sneered inwardly. Saying this now—where were you all those years ago? Still afraid of Senju Tobirama, and now that you hear my restrictions are lifted, you want to win me over. Dream on. But he didn't show it, simply activating his Sharingan silently.

"Two Tomoe?" Seeing Tianqi's eyes, Uchiha Qingyang sucked in a breath, shocked to his core. At ten years old, with no one teaching him, he'd already awakened a Two Tomoe Sharingan. Hadn't he heard it was only a Single Tomoe before? In just a few days, it had evolved again.

Though his strength was only at Genin level, that was without any guidance. Now that the restrictions were lifted, his power would surely skyrocket. He really was Madara's son—his talent was no less than Madara's.

Now the Second Hokage was increasingly hostile to the Uchiha. Even though Kagami had become the Second's disciple, that wasn't nearly enough. If he could use Tianqi to rally Madara's loyalists, combined with Tianqi's strength, they'd surely have enough say in Konoha.

"Tianqi, I know you hold a grudge against the clan. You've suffered all these years—lost your position as Young Clan Head, lived in poverty. But against the Second Hokage, the clan had no choice."

"Ever since your father defected, the clan has had no one who could match the Second Hokage. We had to compromise." Uchiha Qingyang played the sympathy card directly.

"Oh? Clan Head, what exactly are you trying to say?" Tianqi knew Qingyang wanted to recruit him, but he pretended not to understand.

"Tianqi, what I mean is, since the Second Hokage lifted your restrictions, I hope you'll truly return to the Uchiha. After all, we're the same clan—even if we treated you poorly, we're still better than outsiders, aren't we?"

"From now on, if there's anything you don't understand, you can come to me. Any jutsu you want to learn, I'll give it to you anytime. Of course, once your strength is sufficient, restoring your position as Young Clan Head isn't out of the question."

Listening to Uchiha Qingyang paint him a rosy picture, Tianqi just nodded silently and walked out.

"Restore my position as Young Clan Head? Uchiha Qingyang, you really think I'm a kid. Feeding me empty promises—you've picked the wrong person, you old fox." Once outside, Tianqi muttered under his breath, then headed back toward his home.

"Following me this long—aren't you tired?"

Ever since leaving the Military Police Force, Tianqi had sensed someone watching him, just like when the Anbu used to tail him.

Swish!

As soon as Tianqi finished speaking, a masked ninja appeared before him.

"Uchiha Tianqi, the Elder wants to see you. Come with me."

Hearing the masked ninja's words, Tianqi narrowed his eyes. Interesting. First the clan head summons me, now the Militant Faction's Elder. Interesting, interesting.

"If the Elder summons, then let's go," Tianqi said to the masked ninja.

Seeing Tianqi agree so readily, the masked ninja was taken aback. He'd expected to waste some time, but Tianqi was surprisingly straightforward. Without another word, he turned and led the way, Tianqi following close behind.

Soon, Tianqi followed the masked ninja to the outskirts of the Uchiha compound. His own home on the edge wasn't far from here.

A few minutes later, Tianqi arrived at a courtyard. Pushing open the door, he saw an old man sitting quietly in the center of the yard.

"Elder, the person is here."

"Mm, I know. You may leave."

Once the ninja was gone, the Elder spoke. "You're Uchiha Tianqi, aren't you? Come, sit."

"Mm." Tianqi didn't say much, sitting directly across from the Elder.

"You look so much like your father." The Elder gazed at Tianqi's face, as if transported back to when Madara was still around—the same unruly demeanor, the same long hair.

Tianqi rarely bothered with his hair, just brushing it back casually. He already resembled Madara, and with his hair like that, the resemblance was even stronger—which only made Tobirama dislike him more.

"Elder, it's getting late. If you have something to say, just say it directly. I have things to do tomorrow." Tianqi spoke flatly. It really was late, and he still had to pick up a mission tomorrow. If they dragged this out, he wouldn't get any sleep tonight.

Tianqi dared to speak so bluntly because this man was one of his father's loyalists. If it were Uchiha Qingyang, Tianqi wouldn't have dared. He was just a Genin now, not strong enough yet—he still needed to keep a low profile.

Hearing Tianqi's words, the Elder didn't mind. Facing Tianqi like this was almost like facing Madara himself. He appreciated this straightforwardness. Then, without warning, he knelt before Tianqi.

"Young Clan Head, all these years, because of the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, I failed to take care of you. You've suffered needlessly. I've failed you, and I've betrayed Lord Madara's trust in me."

"Elder, what are you doing?" Tianqi quickly helped the Elder up.

He had to admit, the Elder's sincerity was far greater than Uchiha Qingyang's. Not only did he acknowledge Tianqi's position as Young Clan Head, but he also knelt before him—genuine sincerity. Truly, comparison was the thief of joy.

"Young Clan Head, please follow me." Soon, the Elder led Tianqi to an underground chamber, filled to the brim with jutsu scrolls and money.

"This... this is?" Tianqi looked at the Elder in bewilderment.

"Now that Senju Tobirama's restrictions on you are lifted, our Militant Faction will devote everything to training you. Learn any jutsu you want. Once your strength is sufficient, all one hundred of us will follow your orders."

"When the time comes, if you say the word and we leave Konoha, we'll follow you without hesitation."

Hearing this, Tianqi broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly stopped the Elder from continuing.

"Elder, you can't say things like that. As long as Konoha doesn't wrong us, we shouldn't have such thoughts. Besides, it's too early to talk about all this. Without strength, ideas are just empty talk."

"As for 'Young Clan Head'—don't call me that anymore. That's in the past."

Hearing Tianqi's words, the Elder looked at him with curiosity. Tianqi's words didn't sound like they came from a ten-year-old. And indeed, the Elder had been testing him.

Any normal ten-year-old hearing such things would have gotten carried away. But Tianqi remained calm and level-headed, with clear ideas of his own.